*This post was written by me on behalf of McCormick Spices and IMUSA Cookware. I received complimentary product samples to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% mine.
You all know that we have been very busy celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month around these parts for the past few weeks. What Hispanic Heritage celebration would be complete without sharing some of our favorite Latin dishes? After all, a huge part of the Latin culture revolves around food and families getting together to enjoy meals and spend some quality time together.
Growing up in Spain, I can still remember sitting in the kitchen and watching my grandmother preparing all of our family’s meals. She would pour her heart and soul into those recipes and the best ingredient in all of them was the love that she infused into preparing each and every single one. It was almost as if that was the secret ingredient. As an adult, I now know that that spices that she used played a big part in creating all of those delectable dishes.
McCormick herbs and spices always catapult my tastebuds back to those times from my childhood where I became intoxicated by the delicious smells coming from my grandmother’s stove. Spices can literally transform any dish into a kaleidoscope of tastes that will tickle your taste buds. I know this because their brand is a staple in our home and we use their spices in many of our traditional Hispanic recipes.
Here is a great one that you can try right in your own home:
Rice With Corn and Olives By Elsie Ramos
- long grain white rice 2 cups
- Corns on the Cob (or 1 1⁄2 cup of Sweet Corn) 4
- Sofrito 2 tablespoons
- tomato sauce ½ cup
- vegetable or corn oil ¼ cup
- Spanish olives ¼ cup
- In an IMUSA FRY PAN, sauté the corn until lightly browned and crisp, then set aside to cool.
- Turn heat on to medium. Add oil, tomato sauce and sofrito in your IMUSA CALDERO. Let it simmer together for 3 minutes.
- Add the corn to the IMUSA CALDERO. Proceed by adding olives then stir. Cover and let it cook. Blend together for about 5 minutes.
- Add the rice and stir to coat.
- Raising the heat to high, add 4 cups of water and stir
- Add a pinch of salt and let it cook until the water starts evaporating (7-10 minutes). Reducing the heat to low, cover the Caldero and let cook for 18-20 minutes (or until rice is fluffy).
- Serve with sweet plantains or green salad.
No matter what recipes you prepare to enjoy with your family for Hispanic Heritage Month, make sure you include McCormick Spices in them and IMUSA Hispanic and International Cookware. These are products that are specifically designed to prepare our favorite Latino dishes, OUR way!
GIVEAWAY:
***Our sponsor is giving away a CUBAN / CARBIBBEAN PACKAGE containing IMUSA’s Wood Mortar and Pestle and Tostonera, & McCormick’s Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, Curry Powder, Paprika, Cinnamon, Oregano, Black Peppercorn Grinder, Chicken Bag ‘n Season, Black Beans & Rice Mix, and Paella Rice Mix.***a Rafflecopter giveaway
Product Review/Giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above from McCormick Spices and IMUSA Cookware to test/review/giveaway in exchange for my opinion and for the purpose of writing this post. I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
Gracias por el sorteo 🙂 a mi me facinan todos los productos de McCormick’s en especial el de Rice Mix, lo utiliso cuando hago arroz a la Mexican 🙂 suerte!!!!!!!
We use lots of McCormick’s products in our household, but their taco and fajita mixes are the yummiest! We buy a low-sodium variety that they sell in the grocery stores near us that are just as good as the original versions. I’m so jealous that you grew up around such amazing food in Spain! I’m sure the authentic food you grew up with is so much better than anything served in restaurants here in the U.S.
The Italian spices that you grind when you use, pepper (s), and garlic powder. i’ve been using a lot of thyme lately too
I like using oregano on my mom’s homemade menudo.
I always use McCormick spices when I cook. I make lots of tacos, burritos and fajitas for my family and I think their taco seasoning is the best.
I’m looking at some of the spices here and I’m actually using all of them, especially Hungarian paprika. They’re healthy too!
One of my favorites is garlic powder. I use it a lot. I also like to use cinnamon. I mix cinnamon and sugar and use it on toast for breakfast.
I use cumin a lot! I use it in Mexican and Indian foods, in hamburgers, chili, lentil soups, etc. it’s one of my most used spices!
I use garlic and basil A LOT! My husband is Italian so these seem to be a common ingredient in many of our dishes. I don’t mind though, they make the recipes YUMMY!
i love the pepper corn and sea salt grinders i use them everyday
Im Puertorican, so those spices area always in my pantry. Plus, theres no better way to make rice than using a caldero.
I’m from the Caribbean so I always have to have my black pepper and curry. I feel like my foods don’t taste the same without them. I love McCormick as well. They’re slightly expensive but you get quality.
Growing up, my Mom and Dad never used a lot of spices of any kind. We ate pretty bland. When I married my Husband who is of Italian heritage, he wanted me to cook with more spice. So I had to learn a whole new way to cook.
Oh wow that looks amazing – I do like a spicy dish every now and again although I can’t take things too hot I have to admit. x
My dad would never make anything without adding a little of this and a little of that. I use a lot of garlic in my cooking – Mexican & Italian are favorites. In baking, I use cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, pumpkin pie spice and flavored extracts.
I love cooking with spices. I think its a way to get healthy spices into your diet. McCormick is a fav of ours.
McCormick has some of the best spices! We use plenty of them but one of my favorites is the Spicy Montreal Steak seasoning. Use it when grilling steaks, chicken and veggies all the time!
I use McCormick all the time! I have several of their flavor packets in my cabinet right now. I need to whip up some of this. THanks for sharing the recipe.
I use McCormic in all my foods! I love orégano , garlic and peper.
I love McCormick spices. I am a spice lover and use a ton each day in everything I cook. Daily I use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder. I use a lot of oregano, basil and cinnamon as well.
I have a cupboard full of McCormick’s seasonings and you may recall last week’s Friday Foodie Feature was Fiesta Chicken, made with their new Slow Cooker seasoning pack.
I love using spices in my cooking, paprika and cumin are probably a couple of my highest other than garlic
We use garlic in tons of things. Everything from green beans, spghetti, chili
Honestly I use garlic in pretty much everything! Of course in things like stews, for spicing meat and veggies, but I also put some in my sweet oatmeal every morning. I love the contract between sweet fruits and the garlic! YUM!
I love using garlic, cumin, and sofrito in my arroz con gandules, and beef & chicken stews.
I used McCormick because it’s the best spices that I could used for my meat! And, it really make it tasty! I loved rice, thanks for the yummy looking recipe.
Oh I use all of those ingredients all the time! They make the best dishes!
I’m pretty sure it’s McCormick that makes the slow cooker envelopes like this that I just discovered and loved. Even if it’s not (and I cannot remember), we’ve McCormick everything in our house for a very long time. They do make nice products.
I love McCormick spices. They make everything so good!
I love McCormick Spices. I love the pre mixed Beef Stew mix too. It give just the right flavors to my Beef Stew and it is so easy to use.
I love McCormick spices. I like to use nutmeg for Asian inspired dishes. I use garlic and onion powder in almost anything. I also love cinnamon.
I love to learn about different cultures and heritage, and that always includes having a few recipes..LOVE this.. thanks for sharing, sooo gonna have to try it; sure looks delicious
I use garlic and/or basil in a lot of dishes. I also love to use turmeric – it has a wealth of benefits, and it’s very beneficial during cold season.
I love that this has olives in it. Such a yummy flavor. I studied in Spain in college and the best spice I learned about and still use was saffron. So delicious..but expensive!
Your rice dish looks absolutely sensational!
I love Italian dishes like Chicken Marsala. I use McCormick Recipe Inspirations Chicken Marsala package to create my dish. I would love to experience the Cuban/Caribbean flavors as well.
I used lots of garlic powder in many dishes,as it gives it that extra kick. I also like to add McCormick gravy to my meatloaf~it is so good!
i’m actually making fajitas today… in India 🙂
I love to using all kinds of spices basil being one of them! We use a lot of McCormick I use it to make Fajitas and Chili! McCormick makes so many that we love!
I love using McCormick spices, they such a great variety of choices to choose from. They make my nightly duty of cooking dinner much easier!
I love McCormick spices! I was so hapy when I found Toasted Cumin and Toasted Coriander
I love their seasonings! Poultry mix is their best I use it all the time.
I like using Cinnamon in my french toast. Is there a SPanish toast?
I enjoy cooking Italian, so some of my favorite spices to use are basil and garlic. I make a lot of soups, with my favorite being Tuscan Vegetable Soup; in that one I use sage and thyme.
I love adding cinnamon to oatmeal, cinnamon rolls, coffee pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin pie just to name a few. Oh and French toast.
Oh spices —- we seem to gravitate to oregano, rosemary, and red pepper flakes here in our house! Hubs does a lot of the cooking (not complaining just saying!) and I tend to get sent out on expeditions when things call for a spice off the beaten path. It’s always an adventure!
I use Paprika on baked potatoes, potato and macaroni salad. I use garlic powder in chili, on baked meats and garlic bread. I use Oregano in tomato sauce and on pizza.. I use Cinnamon in rice pudding.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I like to use Cinnamon. I use it in French Toast, which I like with Sausage.
I love their enchilada mix and I constantly use their oregeno and garlic powder. Also I use cinnamon for baking things like muffins and cake,especially in the fall!
I love using chili and garlic powder in the chili with corn dish.
I entered the State Farm My Drive giveaway
I love using garlic powder in marinara sauce
pumpkin pie spice is great in the fall, I use it a lot in smoothies and for pumpkin treats 🙂
I use black pepper, salt and garlic powder in almost all my dishes. Comino is a must add to my rice and I like adding Cinnamon to my desserts, specially to the rice pudding and banana shakes
Leidy R rafflecopter
Entered the Celebrate my drive giveaway
Leidy R rafflecopgter
I entered Is Your Local High School Registered For Celebrate My Drive? giveaway.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I love using McCormick Paprika and black pepper in home made macaroni
I use the Montreal steak in most of my marinades for meat
Being Cuban you’ve just got to have: Salt, Pepper, Oregano, Garlic powder, Onion Powder, Cilantro, Cumin, Bay Leaves… those are just the basics!
I like using oregano, black pepper and italian seasoning in spaghetti sauces and rigatoni
I love cumin and love to use it all types of cooking. It goes with chili, chicken, and lot’s more.
I don’t know about spices but I’ll add basil and cilantro to almost anything! Pepper is always good and I use garlic powder too for Italian dishes. 🙂
I like using chili powder and cumin in chili.
I use lots of herbs and spices, especially cinnamon and nutmeg in baking and basil in tomato dishes. I have recently used much more cumin and turmeric in pickling and ethnic dishes.
I love spice. I put a lot of cayenne pepper in just about everything I eat, especially stews.
garlic powder, i put it in everything
I love using Cumin powder in many of my curries – gives such earthy aroma! I find myself using a lot of garlic and nutmeg to give depth of flavor in my baked dishes. With the fall, I find myself making chillis, baked enchiladas and pies!
Entered the $100 Visa Gift Card and Diversity on Demand Swag Bag giveaway
I love using garlic powder the most. I practically put it in everything I cook. I also like using Cumin for chilis and other similar dishes. Thank you for the nice giveaway!
Cinnamon is my favorite spice because it’s so versatile. I’ve got a wonderful spicy chicken recipe I use it in, and of course it goes well in baked goods.
I love using garlic powder and onion powder. I put it in practically everything including eggs. Everything tastes better with garlic. LOL!! Thanks for the awesome giveaway 🙂
Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
It depends on the season- I use a lot of basil in salads in the summer. In the winter I cook with a lot of sage, thyme and bay in soups and stews.
My favorite spices to use are Basil, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, and Rosemary. I love cooking Italian recipes the most. I use those spices when I am making homemade Spaghetti Sauces, Baked Ziti or Lasagnas. I love using Rosemary when I make a Whole Baked Chicken with that I stuff with Garlic and Lemon, it is delicious!
I entered the Diversity on Demand giveaway.
garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayanee pepper! And we use it in almost everything.
I use a variety of spices when cooking, being Italian, my favorites are garlic, oregano and hot pepper flakes. I use them in various pasta skillet dishes, using hot sausage, ground turkey to create lovely pasta dinners. 🙂
I use the cinnamon all the time. Just last night I used it to make french toast.
My favorite is minced garlic. I put it in everything! [email protected]
I use a lot of chili powder
I like to use curry in my lamb burgers & I love to use thyme in chicken marinade for BBQ’n. Of cousr I use onion & garlic powders in all things savory like stuffings & Rice Pilaf.
I like making shredded enchiladas with cumin,cayenne and chili powder
Thanks for the chance.
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I use oregano and chili powder the most. I like Italian and Mexican foods because they have flavor. I use chili powder in tacos and chili and oregano on pizza and on sandwiches with olive oil
I love spices in my food. I use basil, tumeric, thyme. It really depends on the type of food, Indian, Mexican, Italian…varies but nice
I use pepper on everything! I also like cinnamon and nutmeg in cookies and cakes.
susan chester
I love to use cajun seasoning in my cajun chicken pasta. I also use garlic salt and garlic powder. Basil is another one in the dish.
One of my most favorite spices to use is cinnamon! I add it to a lot of things. I love it in my coffee, chili, pancakes, yogurt or just sprinkled on toast!
I love using cayenne and garlic in almost everything. I cook many different ethnic cuisines and you can use those in so many different ways. Everything from jerk chicken to hot and spicy thai food to Mexican food. In sweet foods I love nutmeg, mace and ground coriander seeds.
I like onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. I also like McCormick’s montreal beef and chicken seasoning.
I use a lot of garlic powder and onion powder on meats that I cook. I also use chili powder in my chili and Mexican recipes.
I use a lot of Paprika! It adds such an amazing flavor to almost everything. I also love the Italian Season. It’s great not only for Italian meals but also adds a great flavor to baked chicken
i like cilantro and oregano
I love cooking with garlic powder, smoked paprika and Italian seasoning because it adds a tremendous amounts of flavor to my meals
We use curry powder a lot in our Indian dishes!
Garlic salt is one of my favorites. I love to sprinkle it on top of BBQ chicken. I also love adding garlic powder to almost anything with potatoes or chicken.
I’m actually not much of a cook. In fact, I really have no idea how to spice anything. But I’m trying. So far cumin is my favorite spice.
I love making homemade chili, the spicier the better! I use the McCormick hot chili seasoning mix, and then add in coarse ground black pepper, Perfect Pinch Cajun seasoning, the hot Mexican style chili powder, some minced garlic, and crushed red pepper.
I use Garlic powder, salt and pepper. I use steak seasoning on my steak and beef meals and cinnamon for cinnamon and sugar toast. I use a lot of of seasonings because I do not like bland foods.
I like garlic powder, cumin, oregano. We use these to make things like carne asado. We love it! Of course we use it for chili and various other mexican foods as well.
I really like to mix together Garlic Salt and Onion Powder to shake over meats of all kind. I will also mix it in my mashed potatoes and my family loves the flavor. I use any kind of spice or seasoning as any recipe calls for it. I also love to mix Cinnamon in with sugar for the times I want cinnamon toast.
I like to use Oregano and Thyme when I make my Jambalaya. I also use a lot Cayenne Pepper as I like to make Creole dishes.
I use garlic powder, oregano and onion powder. I use them in my spaghetti sauce and in my goulash.